Winsnes bespoke friendly fly-fishing accommodation

The Legend that is Winsnes

Gaula Salmon – Bespoke Fly Fishing Lodge In Norway

Winsnes Fly Fishing Lodge is an Atlantic Salmon Fishing Lodge on one of the world’s finest salmon rivers, the Gaula river in Norway. Today, the lodge is run by the descendants of the same family that built it in the 19th century.

Famed for the quality of its fly fishing and the size of its Gaula salmon, the Gaula river began to attract overseas visitors for fly fishing visitors in the middle of the 19th century, prompting the fishing lodge to be built in 1882. In the same year that the house was built, the Winsnes family hosted a summer fishing party from Great Britain led by John Gordon. Such parties were typical in parts of Norway at the time: inspired by the biggest Atlantic Salmon in the world, the English ‘salmon lords’ as they were known, were regular visitors to Norway throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries as they sought out the biggest, strongest Atlantic salmon in the world.

The current owners have revived the tradition of salmon fishing summers and these days Winsnes Fly Fishing Lodge is recognised as a world class international fly fishing lodge with guests from all over the world.

Nowadays, the lodge (Storstuu Winsnes) is owned and run by Anne Marit Winsnes-Hayes and husband Matt Hayes. Anne Marit is the 17th generation of her family to live and own fishing rights in the valley since records began just after the black plague while Matt is a well known angler, photographer and broadcaster.

Fishing is an important part of life at Winsnes: it is a heritage that we cherish and our we are dedicated to protecting the salmon of Gaula by running the fishery in a style that maximises catches but protects our valuable fish, allowing them to spawn successfully. Gaula Salmon – Bespoke Fly Fishing Lodge In Norway Gaula Salmon – Bespoke Fly Fishing Lodge In Norway